New housing development in Parnell

An artists impression of Edition, an 18-apartment development in Auckland suburb of Parnell. Picture / supplied.

A new chapter in the Auckland apartment market launches when Edition, a high-end 18-apartment complex is brought to market in Parnell early next month.

The complex is being developed by development and construction business LEP Group. Building will start in October and the expected finish date is mid-2019.

LEP has worked on office, public and retail developments, and had been looking for the right site for an apartment project.

The company is working with architects at Monk Mackenzie, and Bureaux designers. In creating Edition, Monk imagined a bold, contemporary building to occupy the sloping site.

The upper three levels will be cantilevered above the ground, creating a profile with a sophisticated shape that enables view shafts from the street through to the harbour.

The Herald spoke to LEP Group director Russell Thompson to find out more about this development.

Is this a new chapter in Auckland's apartment market?

We think so. The apartment market has matured - what Aucklanders want out of apartment living has become more sophisticated, more in line with how people live in European and Australian cities.

Edition is an example of buyers expecting more than just convenience when it comes to medium-density residences.

It's a new chapter for Parnell, too. In the 80s and 90s, Parnell was the place to be. But Ponsonby became where everyone wanted to live and go out. Parnell's started making a comeback - it has harbour views, it's walking distance to the city and the waterfront, and the train station is nearby.

What feedback have you been getting?

A lot of the people interested in Edition are leaving their large family homes or returning from overseas.

They want generous spaces, high-end fixtures and fittings, but also spaces that are easy to live in and in the middle of the city.

The architecture designed by Monk Mackenzie, with its cantilevered design and facade of Italian glass bricks, makes it unlike anything else in the city.

Will this be of interest to property investors?

No, this is a building for owner-occupiers. There are only 18 apartments in Edition and each is designed as a home rather than an investment.

What's on offer?

There are one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom options. The 'smaller' apartments range from one-bedroom, 81sq m apartments through to two-bedroom 105sq m; mid-range, a mixture of two-bedroom, plus media room, that ranges from 121sq m to 170sq m; the larger apartments start at 225sq m and include a 335sq m penthouse.
Prices start at $1.6 million.

We have taken a pared-back approach to building amenities, because most amenities are rarely used and end up contributing to an inflated body corp fee. Instead, we've focused on the quality of the architecture and the interiors.

All apartments have oak cabinetry, travertine stone, floor-to-ceiling windows, Miele and Bosch appliances and Italian tapware. Outside, communal spaces include a reflection pond, pebble gardens and a winter garden.